Aircraft



Jan. '31, 2 1 5929.

7 1,697,770 w. KREIKENBOIHM- AIRCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1927 gwmmtoz Jan. 1,1929; 1,697,770

W. KREIKENBOHM Y AIRCRAFT Filed on. e, 1927 2 SheetS-Shet- 2 Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

WILHELH KREIKENBOH M, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AIRCRAFT.

Application filed October 6, 1927; ,Serial No. 224,441.

ranged above andbelow a longitudinal paS- 6 sage through the body of the airship, and other chambers arranged at the sides of said L passa e.

A nrther object of the invention is the provision of an airship having a longitudinal pasasge through its body in which the propeller and motor for actuating the propeller are contained, and providing wmgs arranged across the passage diametrically thereof and forming breakers to prevent the whirl of theair from the propeller and thus maintain the body on even keel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an airship of the type havinga longitudinal passage through its body in which is located a propeller and a motor for drivin the propellerhaving plates hingedly securer to the body at the rear of the passage and adapted to be operated-to control the direction of movement of the airship and also to control its elevation, said plates being adapted to be closed across. the rear of the passa e to dampen the driving effect ofthe prope er and to act as a brake to control the speedof the craft. I a

-The invention will be described 1n \detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view In elevation of the improved air craft,

Figure 2 is a front view in elevation, Figure '3 is a vertical sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on a plane indicated by the line 44 of so Figurea Figures 5 a'nd6 transverse sectional views on planesindicated by the line 55, and 66, respectively,

- Figure 7 is a rear View showing the directional and elevational rudders in open position, and

Figure 8 a similar view showing the rudparts throughout the several views.

The body 1 of the airship is provided with a longitudinal passage 2 that is defined by a circular wall at the forward end of the passage, and by walls 4 at the rear end of the passage that are arranged at angles to one another, preferably roctangularly arranged as shown in Figure (5. The forward end of the circular Wall 3 is flared outwardly as shown at 5 to provide an enlarged entrance forair to be drawn thereto by means of the propeller 6 mounted in the forward end of the passage,and arranged to be driven by a motor contained within a streamline casing 7 and supported in the passage by means of members 8 engaged on the wall 3. Above the passage 2 is arranged acompartment 9 that is designed particularly to house the crew of the ship, the walls of the compartment 9 being provided with windows 10 arranged at the front and sides of the body. Other compartments 11 are arranged on either side of the passage 2 and the walls of the body 1 defining compartments 11 are provided with windows 12, said compartments 11' being designed for the use of passengersor freight,

or both. 'In the lower portion of the body 1 is another compartment 13 that may be used for freight or ballast or as a containorfor the liquid fuel to supply the motor in the casing 7 or for an other purpose. The body is supported w 'ileon the ground by means of wheels 14 carried by a shaft 15 supported by suitable members 16 and a skid 17 secured to the body, and is sustained in the air by wings 18 of any type, 19 being braces for the Wings. It will be understood that the air forced through the passage 2 by the propeller 6 will assist in sustaining the craft in the air, thus to prevent the whirl of the air from the propeller causing a loss of equilibrium of the ship whirl breakers are provided and comprise rings 20 and 21 secured to the walls 3 and 4, respectively, of the passage 2, each of said wings having crossed vanes 22 and 23, respectively, secured therein, it being apparent thatwthe presence of the vanes 22"and 23 serves to break the whirl of the air from the propeller so thatit is discharged at the rear of the passage 2 in a straight line.

Secured to the walls 4 at the rear of the passage 2 arerudders 24 and 25 arranged horizontally, and rudders 26 and 27 arranged vertically, and engaging the'walls 4 as shown of the aeroplane. The rudders 24, 25, 26, and '27 also are designed to be -closed into the position shown in Figure 8 to entirely close the rear end of the passage 2 01 said'rudders' may be open more or less to. permitpassage of. air therethrough, and thus, control the speed of the plane and when the rudders are entirely closed forming a brake 'to stop't-he plane.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In air craft, a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough, wings carried by said body, a motor supported by the body within the passage, a propeller driven by the motor, said motor and propeller being 16-" cat-ed in the forward part of the passage, crossed vanes supported by said body and arranged in the passage forming air whirl breakers, and rudders horizontally and vertically hinged to the body at the rear of the passage and adapted to be closed across the end of the passageto dampenthe drivlng efieetof the propeller.

2. In air craft, a body having a longitudinal passage therethrough, wings carried by 'said body, a propeller located in thepassage,

a motor supporting the propeller for rotation, theforward portion of said passage being defined by a circular wall, the rear portion of the passage being defined by walls arranged at angles, to one another, crossed vanes forming air whirl breakers arranged in said passage and supported by said walls, and ele"ati ona1 and directional rudders hingedly secured to the walls at the rear of the passage, said rudders being adaptable toclose the opening at the rear of the passage.

. .In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILHELM :KREIIKENBOHMI. 

